NOA Lithium Brines’ Rio Grande Project — Three Hits, Bases Loaded

As the global demand for lithium continues to surge, driven by the electric vehicle revolution and renewable energy storage, the quest for new, high-grade lithium resources is intensifying. NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSXV: NOAL) a relatively new entrant in the lithium exploration sector, is making waves with its Rio Grande project in Argentina’s Salta Province. 

This article aims to provide an in-depth examination of the company’s ongoing Phase 1 diamond drill program, focusing on the results from the first three drill holes and their implications for NOA’s broader strategy.

Not a Shot in the Dark

NOA’s Phase 1 drill program at Rio Grande is not a shot in the dark; it’s a calculated endeavor with a clear endgame: to deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate by early 2024. The company holds a 100% interest in approximately 37,000 hectares at the Rio Grande Salar, a region known for its lithium-bearing brines. 

Breaking News: Third Drill Hole (RG23-003)

Headline: NOA Intercepts Over 500 Meters of Lithium Brine-Saturated Units in Third Hole at Rio Grande Project

Tuesday’s news from NOA was attention getting, to say the least. The third hole, RG23-003, was drilled to an impressive and record depth of 659 meters and is located at the Cristina claim on the surface salar. The preliminary highlights are as follows:

• Lithium brine-saturated geological units starting at approximately 15 meters below the surface.
• Over 500 meters of lithium brine-bearing units.
• The deepest reported occurrence of permeable brines at Rio Grande.

Gabriel Rubacha, NOA’s Chief Executive Officer, summed it up aptly: “Results from our third hole are very encouraging. Over 80% of this +600 m hole intercepted lithium brine-saturated units, representing an incredible thickness.”

Second Drill Hole (RG23-002)

Headline: NOA’s Second Hole at Rio Grande Intercepts 307 Meters of High-Grade Lithium Brine Over Two Aquifers

Building on the success of the first hole, NOA’s second hole, RG23-002, drilled approximately 14 kilometers south of the first. This hole, the deepest publicly reported drill hole on the Rio Grande salar to date, intercepted two high-grade lithium brine aquifers. 

The first aquifer began at a shallow depth of 17 meters, spanning 158 meters with lithium concentrations up to 556 mg/l and an average of 440 mg/l. The second aquifer, a newly discovered deeper one, started at 317 meters, covering 149 meters with grades up to 552 mg/l Li and averaging 485 mg/l Li.

First Drill Hole (RG23-001)

Headline: NOA Drills High-Grade Lithium Brine Discovery in First Hole at Rio Grande

NOA’s initial drilling results from the Rio Grande project were impressive and proved NOA’s thesis that the salar extended under alluvial overburden. The first hole, RG23-001, located in the northern alluvials of the salar, unveiled two stacked aquifers. 

The first aquifer presented a permeable brine interval of 71 meters, averaging 433 mg/l Li, starting at 101 meters downhole. The second aquifer began from 311 meters downhole, spanning 158 meters and averaging an impressive 773 mg/l Li, with concentrations reaching up to 925 mg/l Li.

The Next Drill Holes: September Drilling Plans 

NOA’s Chief Executive Officer, Gabriel Rubacha, expressed optimism about the project’s future. 

“Results from our third hole are very encouraging. As in our second hole which was also drilled on the surface salar, brines were intercepted essentially starting at surface. In addition, over 80% of this +600 m hole intercepted lithium brine-saturated units, representing an incredible thickness.”

“With two rigs now operating, we plan to start holes 4 and 5 in September and we remain on track to complete the 6-hole Phase 1 drill program in Q4 2023 and finalize a maiden resource estimate for Rio Grande thereafter.”

The Rio Grande Project: A Comprehensive Overview

The Rio Grande project is part of NOA’s larger portfolio in Salta, Argentina. The company holds a considerable stake in this lithium brine-rich region, sharing the salar with Pluspetrol Resource Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar private energy company. 

Pluspetrol’s last published resource at the Rio Grande salar was 2.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent at a grade of 374 mg/l lithium. However, the salar had only seen shallow drilling (100 m or less). NOA’s initial geophysics from late 2022 lent credence to the existence of productive brines well below 300 m.

NOA controls the majority of the high-potential alluvial areas at the Rio Grande, more than Pluspetrol. In addition, NOA has a strong claim position directly on the surface salar (~ 2,000 ha or 20 square km) – a high-probability potential resource with historical drilling previously carried out in and around the claims.

Creating Milestones in Lithium Exploration

The ongoing drilling program at NOA’s Rio Grande project is shaping up to be a significant milestone in lithium exploration. The latest update on the third hole is particularly noteworthy, as it represents the deepest reported occurrence of permeable brines at Rio Grande. These developments align with the company’s objective to deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate by early 2024.

For investors in the lithium sector or considering an entry, NOA Lithium Brines Inc. is a name to remember. With their innovative approach, promising drilling results, and strategic focus, the company is setting itself apart in the competitive landscape of lithium exploration.

 

Click here to read “NOA Intercepts Over 500 Meters of Lithium Brine-Saturated Units in Third Hole at Rio Grande Project”

Click here to read “NOA Lithium Brines Might Be Better Named WHOA! Lithium Discoveries”